BUST OF JOHN WESLEY.

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January 16th, 1836,) informed him that, in return for his valuable and highly-interesting donation, a selection of Chinese and Saxon manufacture had been made by the Directors, and forwarded to Burslem for his accept

ance.

Mr. Wood, who was originally brought up to his father's business of a modeller, executed in his early days many excellent subjects in the plastic art, consisting of dwarf statues, groups, bas-reliefs, cameos, and intaglios, of terra cotta; specimens of which are still to be met with, and are highly prized. A bust of the venerable Wesley, modelled from his person, at Burslem, in the year 1781, was acknowledged to be the most faithful likeness of that eminent person ever produced, and has been the prototype of numerous copies subsequently promulgated.*

* We cannot refrain from introducing here an interesting anecdote respecting this bust, which we received from Mr. Wood some time ago. He was at Leeds when the Methodist Conference was held there in the summer of 1781, and his busts, being then first introduced, were in eager demand among the preachers and friends of Mr. Wesley. Mr. Wood was pointed out as the artist, and much complimented on the occasion. On returning from the chapel where the busts had just been exhibited, he was thus accosted in the Old Church-yard, by a tall person of clerical appearance. "Are you the young man who made that beautiful likeness of Mr. Wesley ?" Being answered in the affirmative, the stranger requested Mr. W. to tell him how he had made so exact a resemblance of that great man. He was very minute in his enquiries, and having made himself master of the subject, standing on a grave, he placed his hands on the young artist's shoulders, and going through the whole process, from the first preparation of the soft and pliant materials, to the completion of the bust, he, in a most striking manner, applied his information for the purpose of illustrating the wonderful work of God, in the new creation of the human soul after his own image, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. He spoke of the rough and unpromising materials, viz. :-the old corrupt nature derived from fallen Adam, and how, by the influence and energy of the Divine Spirit, this was softened and melted down into godly sorrow and contrition of heart,-became plastic under the hands of the Divine Arti

Mr. Wood, in the year 1807, obtained a Patent for an improvement in the mode of raising water from deep mines, by means of balance beams, fixed at different depths in the shaft, and combining therewith the highpressure power of the steam-engine known as Trevithick's, with the air-pump and condenser of Boulton and Watt, which had not been previously adopted. This invention Mr. Wood applied, for many years, to a steam-mill, and the drainage of his coal-mines, at the Bycars, near Burslem, and found productive of very considerable advantages.

The establishment of Enoch Wood and Sons has been hitherto employed in the manufacture of earthenware of every variety, and they have of late years been reckoned the largest exporters of that article from Staffordshire to the United States of America. They have recently combined the making of Porcelain with their other business.

Next in importance are the China and Earthenware Works of SAMUEL ALCOCK & Co., who occupy three sets of Pot-works near together, situate at the Hill-top, viz., a large manufactory built by the late J. & R. Riley, on the site of John Taylor's house and works; another considerable manufactory, late the house and works of John Robinson and Sons; and another adjacent, formerly William

ficer, was cast into a new mould,-was formed by Him after the likeness of Christ, and thus became a new creature, bearing the image of the heavenly, as before it had borne that of the earthly. He spiritualized, in a happy manner, other parts of the process, comparing the fiery ordeal necessary to the firmness and beauty of the one to the furnace of affliction, the various trials of the Christian, as equally necessary, and by God's grace, equally conducive to the steadfastness of faith and beauty of holiness of the other.

This unexpected address, which lasted about twenty minutes, was listened to with deep interest, and lively emotion. The stranger was no less distinguished a person than the holy and apostolic Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, Salop., of whom Dr. Southey has said, he would have been justly regarded as a saint of the first order in the best era of the Church.

Taylor's house and works. In these manufactories, three of the better sort of houses of the last century are absorbed, or have been swept away, to make room for buildings of trade. The productions of Messrs. Alcock and Co., in ornamental china, are of a first-rate description, consisting of table and tea-services, enriched with exquisite landscape paintings, and other devices; of vases, fancy bouquettes, articles of toilette, and elaborate modelled subjects from history and romance, in biscuit china. Whilst this article is in the press, (1839,) Mr. Alcock has completed the rebuilding of the front of his manufactory, (formerly Robinsons') which presents the most striking and ornamental object of its kind within the precincts of the Borough, and of which his liberality enables us to introduce an engraving. Messrs. Alcock & Co. are largely engaged in the export trade to America.

The works of MACHIN and POTTS, formerly Machin and Baggaley, and now stiled the Waterloo-Pottery, in the Hole-house, and Waterloo-road, are the oldest existing establishment for the manufacturing of porcelain in Burslem. Machin & Co. have, within a few years past, introduced a patent process for printing china and earthenware by machinery, the paper impressions being thrown off from steel cylinders, each engraved with the required pattern, in rapid and almost endless succession, ready for the transferrers' hands. Mr. Potts has also obtained a patent for printing the biscuit wares in various colours at the same time; and, besides this, the proprietors, through the ingenuity and aid of their manager, Mr. William Bourne, have lately brought an important application of the same principles to the ornamenting of paper, and japanned tea-trays, oil-cloths, table-covers, and all articles of prepared canvass, leather, &c., surpassing, we believe, every former attempt at transferring pictorial designs to such kinds of goods. This invention is likewise secured by patent.

The other manufacturers at the present day are MELLOR,